Engineering

Students interested in engineering or applied science may choose to major or minor in engineering science. The curriculum is design-based and hands-on with required industrial internship and abroad experiences. It consists of courses in engineering and the sciences, beginning with an introduction to the engineering design process and culminating in an engineering design capstone project focused on solving real-world problems in conjunction with industrial partners. The engineering program is interdisciplinary in nature, bridging the liberal arts and sciences by emphasizing not only how engineering is built upon basic scientific principles, but also on the vital benefits engineering has on both developing and modern societies.

The major stresses development of the ability to design and conduct experiments, function on multidisciplinary teams, and communicate effectively. The global and societal context of engineering solutions are emphasized through the implementation of designs outside of the United States.

Students may also pursue engineering through the dual-degree program. The first three years of the program are completed at Sweet Briar, where the student completes most of the general education requirements and the requirements for entry into an engineering program at an affiliated institution. After two years of study there, the student is awarded either a bachelor’s (Virginia Tech, Washington University in St. Louis, Columbia University) or a master’s (University of Virginia) degree in a specific engineering discipline. Credits will be transferred to Sweet Briar so that the student can satisfy the requirements for graduation and graduate with her class. A student who is interested in the dual-degree program should consult the engineering advisor as early as possible to plan her three-year course of study at Sweet Briar.